Q & A

Joint Center for Housing Publishes 2017 State of the Nation’s Housing Report

July 19, 2017    

The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University (JCHS) recently released “The State of the Nation’s Housing” report for 2017. The data shows that renters are continuing to experience affordability challenges and that construction hasn’t been keeping pace with...

Democratic Senators Urge HUD Secretary to Restore LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Resources

July 19, 2017    

In response to HUD’s recent decision to remove resources for members of the LGBTQ community from its website, a group of 29 Senate Democrats sent a letter to HUD’s Secretary Ben Carson urging him to protect members of the LGBTQ community from housing discrimination.

Rep. Waters Introduces Public Housing Legislation

July 19, 2017    

The ranking member of the committee on financial services, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), recently introduced the Public Housing Tenant Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2017. Its goal is to preserve public housing, increase tenant protections, and provide additional funds to address the...

HUD Announces Collaboration with Japan for Aging-in-Place Research

July 19, 2017    

HUD and Japan have formally agreed to work cooperatively on researching innovated approaches to housing both nations’ vulnerable senior population. “Our nations have much to learn from each other, and we recognize that our strength is measured by our regard, respect, and care of the...

HUD Releases Updated Section 8 Renewal Policy Guide

July 19, 2017    

HUD recently released an updated Section 8 Renewal Policy Guide that is effective July 28, 2017. The Section 8 Renewal Guide assists those handling the renewal of expiring Section 8 HAP contracts. The guide replaces the last version, which was published in August of 2015.

There are 27...

HUD Issues Two Family Self-Sufficiency Guides

July 19, 2017    

To celebrate 25 years of the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program, HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) and Office of Multifamily Housing Programs (Multifamily) each issued FSS guidebooks for their respective programs. The guidebooks provide information about promising...

Owner Improperly Removed Daughter from Household Composition

July 19, 2017    

Facts: For most of her life, a resident’s daughter lived at a Section 8 site. In or prior to 2007, without her knowledge, her mother removed her from the household composition forms. She continued to live in the apartment. When her mother moved out and she sought to take...

PHA and Manager Not Liable for Visiting Child’s Death

July 19, 2017    

Facts: A young child was shot and killed while visiting a resident at an assisted site. During her tenancy, the resident had several lease violations and alleged violations. These problems ranged from having breed-restricted dogs in her apartment, to playing loud music, to...

Resident Violated Terms of Settlement Agreement

July 19, 2017    

Facts: A public housing resident appealed a trial court order granting possession of her apartment to the owner based on her violation of a settlement agreement. The resident claimed she didn’t breach the agreement. Specifically, she asserted that the owner failed to...

PHA Didn’t Always Comply with HUD’s Family Self-Sufficiency, Voucher Program Requirements

July 19, 2017    

HUD’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) audited the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher program. The audit’s objective was to determine whether the PHA appropriately managed its Family Self-Sufficiency program and Housing Choice Voucher program...

Owner's On-Site Employees Falsified Tenant Eligibility

July 18, 2017    

HUD’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) audited a project-based Section 8 site after receiving a complaint of potential fraud. In October 2015, HUD’s OIG received a complaint that a tenant had been denied assistance at a different apartment complex. The tenant was listed as an...

Weslaco PHA Paid Excessive Travel Costs

July 18, 2017    

HUD’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) audited the Weslaco Housing Authority in Weslaco, Texas, after noting issues in the PHA’s travel while reviewing its independent public accountant’s audited financial statements. Auditors found that the PHA paid its commissioners and...

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